Charity welcomes tougher L tests.

PLANS to make driving tests tougher have been welcomed.

Huddersfield-based road safety charity Brake is giving the thumbs-up to new Government measures to shake-up the skills of new drivers.

The Government will roll out a road safety pre-driver qualification from October.

The certificate will count as a partial credit towards the theory test for car drivers.

Cathy Keeler, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: "This isn''t about discriminating against the young. It's about protecting the next generation of drivers who are most at risk of killing themselves and often their young friends, causing the most unimaginable, terrible grief to families and communities.

"Young drivers are more likely than any other age group to die - particularly young male drivers.

"Often the causes are predictable, such as speeding, drink or drug driving or overtaking where it isn't safe.

"Often young drivers feel invincible and over confident in their abilities and also face distractions or peer pressure from other young people in their vehicles.

"Consequently they often take risks, show-off or lose concentration, causing their own deaths and their friends' deaths."